1. Small elongate fishes of shallow northern seas; a long dorsal fin consists entirely of spines
   "Pricklebacks are well-adapted to life in rocky intertidal zones"
    
2. Small (2-4 inches) pugnacious mostly scaleless spiny-backed fishes of northern fresh and littoral waters having elaborate courtship; subjects of much research
   "Scientists studied the mating rituals of pricklebacks in the shallow pond";
   - stickleback

Derived forms: pricklebacks

Type of: acanthopterygian, blennioid, blennioid fish, spiny-finned fish

Part of: family Gasterosteidae, Gasterosteidae

Encyclopedia: Prickleback